TCO: Chapter Seventeen
For the first time, Gyan understood better why his roommate did not sleep well.
"I will let you know when we hear of anything new," Syam told the group of sans that cornered him with questions about Aderes's sister the next day. "I realize all of you are eager to retrieve Lesiana, as are we, but the timing must be right. Our spies have reported that she is safe."
The elder master's words did little to ease Gyan's discomfort or sooth his eagerness to take action. As a result, he found it more difficult to control his emotional state which seemed to be fluctuating more than normal. He sought out Jalena, believing that her presence may calm him, but learned that she and Shamira were on assignment.
"Will you just stop talking?" he snapped at Hoshi as they walked to the temple library one morning before class. Hoshi's seemingly endless and currently annoying chatter continued to interrupt his stream of thoughts. Gyan had a million questions for Malik about their powers that seemed to accumulate to no end, but his thoughts were also mixed with concern for Aderes. He normally enjoyed Hoshi's overt pondering, but for his current partner, he preferred Valora's quieter companionship so his thoughts could stream uninterrupted.
Hoshi stopped abruptly; her eyebrows raised. Without another word she stalked off in the opposite direction.
"Sorry," Gyan called after her, "I just…" his voice softened, "need to think."
He took off across the courtyard. Without meaning to, he found himself standing before Malik's classroom door. He proceeded to throw his shoulder against the door as he had seen Sorda do on the day of their first class with Malik. Gyan swore under his breath as the door finally gave away.
The classroom was completely dark.
"Sir Malik?" Gyan called.
The candles around the room instantly flickered. Gyan stepped into the room, pulling the heavy door shut behind him. He walked the length of the bookshelf that aligned the north wall, exploring the dust-covered books. He walked further through the classroom and paused before the series of light warrior paintings hanging at the back of the room.
"They represent your ability," Malik said in a low voice from a corner of the room.
Gyan started and turned quickly. "Sir Malik. Sorry…I—how did you get here?" he added in surprise. "I didn't hear you come in."
The candle reflections shone off Malik's silvery eyes, making his appearance more surreal than normal.
"I come when the lights turn if I am nearby," Malik said, gesturing to the candles. The tone of his voice softened his appearance. "They are enchanted."
"You can teleport?"
"Of course…as you can."
"What? Solo?" Gyan scoffed. "You are joking."
"No, San Gyan…I assure you that I only jest at inappropriate times," Malik teased.
"But I thought warriors could only teleport when using the Lumfáinne?"
"Teleporting is one of a warrior's abilities triggered by danger as you likely remember from Brogan's story about Shamira. It's how Jalena removed herself and Shamira when their craft exploded."
"I thought that was just a specific part of her charisma."
"Jalena's charisma allows her to direct another's energy when touching them so she was able to direct Shamira's energy. However, teleporting is something all light warriors can do when their lives are at stake, even without the Lumfáinne."
Malik chuckled as Gyan scratched his head in bewilderment. "Do not worry, San Gyan, you will master all of your abilities in a short time. The progression will come naturally to you."
"That's what everyone keeps saying, but with more information, I only have more questions. I have not had time to process any of what we have learned since arriving in Solara. Sorry for intruding, I just needed…" Gyan sighed. He wasn't sure what he needed. Clarity?"Just want to get some of my curiosity settled."
"Curiosity isn't something to be reprimanded for, San Gyan…only to be admired. In your case, I do not believe that an absence of curiosity could be possible. How may I assist this brief uninterrupted time to ease your curiosity? You are drawn to the paintings, naturally," Malik stated, coming to stand beside Gyan.
"You said they represent our ability. What do mean exactly?" Gyan asked.
"The Damsé Esprimiente. The first painting is of a single warrior. Look at the difference in expansion of light between the paintings, before and after," said Malik. "As the Damsé continues, so does the growth and power of a warrior. Elements of the painting could be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of one's life."
Gyan nodded in understanding. "We evolve throughout the dance of life, so to speak."
"Exactly."
"Why does the last painting of the Damsé have a solitary warrior again when all other paintings after the first in the series have two?"
"I will leave that question, San Gyan, for you to either figure out on your own or to discover during your master training."
Malik went and stood before a large book that lay open in the middle of the long table.
"What is this book? An old wizard's diary?" Gyan teased as he followed him.
Malik smiled. "Much more. This is the Mensa Elab Libran, which translated in the common tongue means: Book of Evolving Thought. It is a collection of knowledge gathered over my life span and additional knowledge involving the evolution of many species within this galaxy."
"You have written all of this?" Gyan asked as he stared at the book in amazement. The book was enormous.
"No, a good portion has come through me though. Other parts of information are due to the experiences of others."
"The book has been passed to other civilizations then?"
"Not exactly. Information in the book doesn't appear through one writing anything down," explained Malik. He stepped back from the table. "Look at the last pages of the book."
Gyan took Malik's place and flipped to the end of the book. "They're blank."
Malik nodded. "It is incomplete. Now, go to the last page of written text and tell me what you see."
Gyan took a small step back and gasped lightly. Sketched symbols in black ink began to appear across the pages before him as if someone was writing them with an invisible hand.
"There are…" Gyan glanced at Malik. "…Faborn runes appearing!" He returned his stare to the script. "Is this a trick?"
Malik smiled and shook his head. "Read them, please."
Gyan took his time deciphering the runes in his mind before reading the text aloud to Malik.
"The empress of light uncovers the bow carrier who possesses both the dark of his own and the gift of light. He shall soon take up quest, but to darkness must he fall so light may be embraced."
"Who is the empress of light?"
"Master Jalena."
"What?" Gyan exclaimed.
"You heard correctly."
Gyan's mind raced with the possible meaning behind Jalena's title.
"No one has any idea of what Jalena is capable of, even with the title the book grants her…and neither, I think, does she," Malik said.
"Is this book revealing prophecies?"
"Yes…as well as present knowledge."
"But how does this book reveal knowledge? What is it talking about now? Why does it refer to Jalena in that way?" Gyan thought his head was going to explode. "I feel like I will never know what I need to know." He sighed, dropped into the nearest chair, and put his hands on his head before dragging them slowly down his face.
Malik stared at Gyan in amusement. "It is vital that you understand, San Gyan, that you never will reach a position in which you know all that you believe you should know when seeking external knowledge. Questions only breed more questions. If you believe that you will reach a place where all shall be revealed and you will have all questions satisfied, you will be disappointed in your wait, for there is no such place. If there were, a limit would exist in learning and potential for evolvement. Yet, there is none. All your progress simply expands the goal and increases what remains to be discovered at the same time.
"You must trust that the answers you seek will come to you in due time. Only then will you rid your mind of unwanted stress…for as a problem or question appears, a solution or answer does as well. Remembering this will help put your mind at ease in the moments your thoughts run away with you. For now, however, I will pour you a drink and then attempt to ease some of your current curiosities in these last minutes we have before class begins."
Malik went to the farthest corner of the classroom and disappeared into a side room behind the wall. He returned with a goblet and handed it to Gyan.
"What is this?" Gyan asked as he peered into the goblet. "Some wizard's potion?"
"Not this time." Malik chuckled. "It is simply wine."
Gyan took a large gulp.
Malik smiled. "Right. To begin, writings in the Libran appear as light warriors encounter new information. I initially enchanted the book so that critical information discovered on missions would be automatically recorded, especially in the event that the warriors did not return from an assignment."
Malik walked over and stood before the book once more. "The transcribing occurs automatically so there is no action taken on the part of the warrior, other than their own consent for me to have access to the information they encounter. All warriors must grant their consent only once by placing a right hand on the book. The book does not reveal personal information, just acquired knowledge learned from the events of a mission. Therefore, based on the recent revelations of the Libran that you read moments ago, we can conclude that Master Jalena and Master Shamira, who are in Feyla Forest now, have encountered information significant for the Order. For the book to claim that there is one who has been gifted light may mean that the arkaí or bow carrier mentioned has been given something from a light warrior…although, it could also mean something entirely different. More will be revealed as Master Jalena and Master Shamira share their experience with the Order."
"So, the book gathers information that the warriors learn as they take on missions?"
"Yes, it is a way of silent communication. The book, interestingly enough, possesses a power that aligns with the synchronicity of time, for it doesn't always reveal information at the exact moment it is learned. I think, perhaps, this is to ensure that events unfold in the manner that they are meant to."
"How do you know that Master Jalena is the one the book refers to as an empress of light?" Gyan asked.
"The book always refers to her in this manner when she is on a mission. It often uses terms that may not yet be understood by the reader. However, I have read and interpreted this book for many years, so I am well-equipped to decipher most of its secrets."
The two sat in silence for several moments as Malik studied the recent text of the Libran.
"Can information that a warrior discovers be hidden from the book?" Gyan asked.
"Not if a light warrior is the one that has encountered it…unless, of course, there is deeper magic at work."
Gyan rose to his feet, feeling more relaxed. "Thank you for the wine, Sir Malik….and the answers."
Malik nodded and looked toward the door. "More in due time, San Gyan. Your team has arrived."